East Street/West Street: US v Russia Street Art Group Show At The Lollipop Gallery

Too slow on the uptake here, but better late than never. The exhibition East Street/West Street is on for a few more days, until March 22nd, at the Lollipop Gallery. This is a very interesting concept for an exhibition and really is worth seeing. The idea of the show is to showcase the broad range of style from the two very differing cultures and yet to explore some of the similarities between the expression of art. The exhibition leans more towards the Russian side of things as the gallery feels that Russian art is undervalued and under known in the West. For me this was the first time I had heard of these artists and am glad I got to discover their work. The show features a broad range of styles and formats, as well as artists from several generations of practice.

The Mint & Serf – Korupted 1 & Korupted 2, Mixed Media on Canvas.

American duo The Merf, aka Mint (of Russian Descent) and Serf, are very interesting in this case for their ability to take an aspect of street art and graffiti, considered by most to be a mess, just layer upon layer of ‘nothing’, something seen the world over, and bring it into the gallery in such an Expressionist form.

The Mint & Serf – Damages, Mixed Media on Canvas.

Nootk – Sunday Black, Acrylic on Canvas.

Nootk who paints cartoon collages in black and white, this piece bares comparison to Picasso’s Guernica.

Misha Most paints scenes filled with people with the focus being on the characters that feature bright smiling faces typically at the forefront of the piece, as this is what the eye will draw upon initially, whilst behind these characters lie the dark and grim reality of the featureless and darker position of his view of the world, filled with extremists, police states and war torn surroundings. His work for me was the highlight of the exhibition.

Misha Most – The Situation (B.O.), Acrylic Spray Paint on Canvas.

Misha Most – The Situation (Cinema), Acrylic Spray Paint on Canvas.

Misha Most – The Situation (D.C.), Acrylic Spray Paint on Canvas.

Misha Most – The Situation (Drones), Acrylic Spray Paint on Canvas.

Shepherd Fairey – Untitled, Print.

Shephard Fairey, one of the US’s most famous artists, is an excellent addition to this exhibit as his work as an American artist is so heavily influenced by Soviet propaganda posters, with his ‘Obey’ slogan and predominant lean towards political based campaign styles and aesthetics in his art.

Shepherd Fairey – Untitled, Print.

Shepherd Fairey – Keith Haring, silkscreen on wood.

Shepherd Fairey – Untitled, Print.

Shepherd Fairey – ‘OBEY’ Fighter Jet.

Dmitri Aske – The Consequences 1, Spray Paint on Plywood.

Dmitri Askes works have a slight 3D effect when viewed up close, created by building up his back board with layers of laser cut wood, then spray painting.

Dmitri Aske – The Consequences 2, Spray Paint on Plywood.

Dmitri Aske – The Consequences 3, Spray Paint on Plywood.

Dmitri Aske – Lady With A Hawk, Spray Paint on Plywood.

Dmitri Aske – Lady With A Hawk, close-up.

It’s the last weekend to catch this show, so head along if you haven’t already, as there is a great range of art to see from diverse group of artists. Finally we have a wall painted recently by Russian artist Misha Most off of Brick Lane for the exhibition.

Misha Most double wall work in Star Yard off Brick Lane, organized by the Lollipop Gallery and still currently there to see.